On November 9, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Shelby County, Alabama v Holder, 12-96, over whether section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act is still constitutional. Section five is the part of the law that requires certain states and smaller jurisdictions to get approval from the U.S. Justice Department before changing any election law or practice.

The lower court, a 3-judge U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., had ruled in favor of section 5.